NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The trio of sophomore guard
Damika Martinez (19 pts), sophomore guard
Aleesha Powell (15 pts, 5 assts) and freshman forward
Joy Adams (14 pts, 8 rebs) propelled the Iona College women's basketball team to a decisive 93-62 victory over Saint Peter's Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Center. All twelve Gaels in action scored in a contest in which the Maroon & Gold shot 49.3% from the field.
Down early 7-5 after a jumper by the Peacocks' Jesika Holmes with 17:36 remaining, Iona went on a 14-0 run in just under five minutes, as senior forward
Jiya Dorcas-Eya put Iona ahead by 12, 19-7, on a layup with 12:49 remaining in the first. Junior center
Sabrina Jeridore led the Gaels with five points during the run while Powell had three points.
Saint Peter's cut the margin back to single digits, 19-10, on a three ppiner by Aziza May but Iona continued to connect from the field, outscoring 22-6 over the next 6:29 of play as the Gaels took a 41-16 lead on a layup by senior guard
Haley D'Angelo.
Saint Peter's was never able to able to comeback from the run in the half, as Iona took a 48-25 lead into half. In the second, a pair of three pointers by the Peacocks cut the margin to 19, 50-31, with 18:59 to play.
Iona answered with a 9-2 run, aided by four points from Martinez and three points from Adams, to grab a 59-33 lead with 16:38 remaining.
After Saint Peter's trimmed the lead to 18, 63-45 with 13:40 left, Iona outscored its conference counterparts 17-2 and took a 80-47 lead with 5:50 when senior
Diana Hubbard knocked down a three-pointer. Iona would be outscored by the Peacocks 15-13 over the duration of the contest, but it was not enough as Iona picked up its fourth conference victory of the season.
The game marked the first time Iona eclipsed the 90-point barrier since a 92 point effort against Rider in January of 2011 and most points scored by the Gaels since a 95-80 victory over Canisius in February 2004.
Iona looks to continue its hot shooting Thursday when they host Niagara at the Hynes Center at 7:00 pm.
